A Tanzania Honeymoon With Wild Days and Slow Evenings

“This was one of the best trips of my life all thanks to Issa and Suma! We saw so many animals! Suma got us so close to them even with so many cars! Issa was so patient with all my questions and accommodating my requests! The food was the best we’ve had on any trip also! The accommodations and people everywhere were so sweet! I looked at over 15-30 different companies and it can be overwhelming. It’s also easier to go with a more established company but don’t be fooled by Goldfinch! They helped curate a once in a lifetime trip!”

“Outstanding Family Safari Wow, wow, wow We found Goldfinch through a comparison website and from the initial response their attention to detail was evident from the start. Kelvin put an itinerary together that suited our requirements, not the other way around. (2 adults traveling with teenage daughters) We did a 17-day itinerary which took us to the northern and central Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro creator, Tangeria national park, a trip to Materuni waterfall on Mount Kilimanjaro and to Zanzibar. On booking a 40% deposit was requested and if paying by credit card there is a bank charge of 3.5%. (On the balance we had the option to pay cash or bank transfer with the 3.5% bank charge, we were never chased for the payment and chose to pay 4 days before departure) We chopped and changed a few bits after we had booked but was never an issue, we received an updated itinerary from Kelvin every time showing the increase or reduction in costs. Our Safari guide Emanuel was unbelievable, spotting animals that other operators had driven past (lion, hyena, Rhino to name a few )always getting the best spots to see the animals, waiting for us to tell him we had seen enough before moving on. While other rushed from A to B we travelled at a pace that fitted the adventure, taking in the forever changing landscapes and other animals. He started as a guide and finished as a friend. All the accommodation was to a high standard and the food as well. All the staff are so friendly and accommodating they make you feel really welcome from the moment you arrive. The 3 nights we stopped in tented were the best, hearing the different animal's noises were brilliant and seeing Wildebeest and Water buffalo roaming was great. We had so many once in a lifetime moments, from doing the Hot Air Ballon ride, seeing the great migration river crossing and the awaiting crocodiles, leopard in a tree, Cheater mother and her 4 cubs, lion cubs running past the jeep, Elephant's brushing by and seeing 11 rhinos' in Ngorongoro, with 4 of them less than 30ft away on my birthday is a moment I will never forget. The walk to Materuni waterfall is challenging with a lot of ups and downs, steps and slippery bits, takes about 45 - 60 mins each way but the views in the valley and the waterfall are spectacular. There is a coffee experience attached to the day, we just did the tasting as we were pushed for time, but was very nice. Our final leg of the trip took us to Zanzibar, we chose the Rui Palace as we have experience of the brand, again didn't disappoint. We did 2 trips, organised by Kelvin to Stone Town going to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises and then onto a sandbank for lunch, both very busy but worth going. Second trip was to Salaam caves to swim with the turtles, we went very early to avoid the queues, was worth the early start. All in all, we cannot praise Kelvin, Emanuel and the team at Goldfinch enough for making the trip and our eldest daughters 21st birthday a once in a lifetime adventure. Cannot recommend highly enough.”

“8 Days Dream Honeymoon. EVERYTHING AND MORE We couldn’t have asked for a better safari experience with Goldfinch Adventures! From the very first contact to the last day of our trip, everything was exceptionally well organized and exceeded our expectations by far. A special thank you goes to Brenda, our coordinator, who did a phenomenal job. She was incredibly attentive, responsive and professional throughout the entire planning process and made sure that every detail was taken care of. We always felt that we were in the best hands. Our safari guide Swahibu was simply amazing. He was professional, warm-hearted, incredibly knowledgeable and always had a great sense of what would make the experience even more special. His 20 years of experience really showed — from his incredible knowledge of the animals and the Serengeti to his ability to spot wildlife from what seemed like miles away. We saw so much more than we could ever have imagined, and every game drive felt like a true adventure. Goldfinch Adventures didn’t just meet our expectations — they exceeded them by far. The combination of excellent organization, personal attention and an outstanding guide made our safari an unforgettable experience. A huge thank you to Brenda, Swahibu and the entire Goldfinch Adventures team. We would choose you again without hesitation and highly recommend you to anyone dreaming of an unforgettable safari in Tanzania!”

“Absolutely perfect safari experience I am incredibly happy that I found Goldfinch Adventures and chose them for my safari. I truly could not recommend them enough. From beginning to end, everything was incredibly well organized. Brenda was wonderful to work with and made the entire process so easy. From the hotel pickups and flights into the Serengeti to the accommodations and daily logistics, everything ran seamlessly. Moyo Camp was fantastic. The accommodations were beautiful, and the staff and service were absolutely incredible. I felt so well taken care of throughout my stay. Swahibu was also a major highlight of my experience. He is truly exceptional at what he does. His knowledge of the Serengeti is unbelievable, from the animals and different species to the plants, landscapes, and ecosystem. What impressed me most was his ability to read the environment and anticipate where the animals would be. He knew the routes, where to position the vehicle, and could often predict what we were going to see before we saw it. He is extremely wise, professional, patient, and genuinely wonderful company. I learned so much from him every single day. You quickly realize that guiding at this level is a craft, and Swahibu has absolutely mastered it. Seeing the Northern Serengeti and the Great Migration was something I will never forget. Goldfinch made the entire experience effortless from start to finish, and I could not be happier that I chose them. Thank you to Brenda, Swahibu, and the entire Goldfinch team for such an incredible experience. I would recommend them without hesitation, and if you have the opportunity to safari with Swahibu, you are in extremely capable hands.”

“Couldn’t Recommend Enough! Magnificent! We honestly cannot recommend Goldfinch Adventures enough! From the very beginning, Kelvin was fantastic. The booking process was so easy, communication was excellent and everything was organised perfectly, making the whole experience completely stress-free. Our guide, Lesaro, was absolutely amazing. He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and patient, and went above and beyond to make our safari so special. We genuinely couldn’t have wished for a better guide and he really helped make the trip unforgettable. The lodges Kelvin arranged for us were all lovely, in beautiful locations, with fantastic hospitality and great food. Every part of the trip felt so well thought through. We flew out of Dar es Salaam and back into Zanzibar, and Kelvin even arranged our transport from Zanzibar airport to our villa. That extra touch really showed how much care went into organising our trip from start to finish. We had the best 4 days and it really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will never forget our time in Tanzania and the incredible memories we made. Thank you so much to Kelvin, Lesaro and everyone at Goldfinch Adventures. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone considering a safari in Tanzania. You won’t be disappointed! Love, Jess, Kev, Adam and Louise”